Weather Blog: Tornado Watch Issued For Delaware Valley

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The entire CBS 3 coverage area has been placed under a Tornado Watch which runs until 10 p.m. Thursday.

The threat for strong to severe thunderstorms will increase during the afternoon, especially as we get close to the evening rush hour. These storms can produce very heavy rainfall in a short period of time, as well as frequent cloud to ground lightning.

While gusty winds and small hail are also a concern, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

If a Tornado Warning is issued, that means that a storm is capable of producing a tornado or that one is already on the ground and that shelter must be taken. The safest place to be in a tornado is in a basement or cellar, but if you can’t get to these locations go to the interior of your home and stay away from windows.

The cold front bringing these severe storms will slowly push off to the east on Friday, but showers and storms are still possible.

Saturday looks to be the better half of the weekend. It will be a partly sunny day with a scattered afternoon or evening thunderstorm before another round of more concentrated showers and heavy rain moves in for Sunday.

The daily threat for showers and storms will persist right into the beginning of the next work week.

Since the beginning of the month, we have received 8.81 inches of rain at the Philadelphia International Airport, currently making it the 2nd wettest June of all-time. The record for the month of June stands at 10.06 inches, set back in 1938.

Since we are stuck in a soggy weather pattern, it appears highly likely that we will break the 75-year-old record.